Caroline Fraser writes:
New Midlothian based festival launches in September 2013
Penfest 2013 is a celebration of arts in Penicuik and District which runs from the 14-28th September. This year the festival coincides with Midfest, Midlothian's newest arts, crafts and music festival running from the 21-29th September.
The Penicuik Community Arts Association (PCAA) have been working on a varied programme which will include a number of exhibitions, concerts, workshops and poetry events.
Music and poetry feature strongly in this year’s programme of events. Fiona Hunter, lead singer with Malinky, launches her first solo album as part of a concert hosted by the Penicuik Folk Club. Fiona is one of Scotland's foremost traditional singers and her time with the band has seen them win many accolades including the prestigious Folk Band of the year award at the 2010 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and she has twice been nominated in the Scots Singer of the Year category at the awards. She will play with Mike Vass.
Michelle Burke presents her own special, musical view on her Irish childhood in 'Step into my Parlour', a sell out theatre show (Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012) featuring songs, stories and memories in a quirky inviting parlour setting.
The town hall hosts a film screening of 'Shell', a highly acclaimed and atmospheric British coming of age story set in the wilds of Scotland. The film screened at this year's Glasgow Film Festival and was nominated for three awards at the BFI London Film Festival.
Other events include: Another session of the popular 'Inspired by Art' creative writing evening with music, piano by Peter Stewart, saxophone by Stephanie Clark and guitar and song by Sophie Burt amongst others. There will be an Open Mic night of readings and song with the Penicuik Writers, and the Pentland writers at Carlops village hall, Henry Marsh hosts and evening of music and poetry in Rosslyn Chapel and Dr Fred Freeman gives a lecture on the response to Irish immigration in the 18th century illustrated through the songs and music on Robert Tannahill.
The mainstay of the festival is the popular annual art exhibition held at the PCAA's home at West Street arts centre. Each year local artists display their best work and compete for the Penicuik Turner Prize, named after a local blacksmith who made the coveted trophy. Sculptor David Annand will judge the event and in addition the people's choice will ask members of the public to vote on their favourite work and the result is announced on the 28th September at the closing of the exhibition.
The popular arts trail involves a number of retail outlets in the town displaying work and four artists Jane Kelly, Ulla Hipkin, Christina Suter and Christine Finlayson open their workshops to the public.
There will also be free drop in craft sessions for all ages in the Penicuik town hall and at West Street Arts Centre, part of the launch of "Crafts 4 All" Project - the next incarnation of what was 3 years of the magical 'Making Space Penicuik'. More details about this radical re-launch are being handcrafted as we speak.
Chairman Jackie MacDonald commented, “it is so exciting to have all this on your doorstep; to realise the depth of local talent and to showcase this alongside acclaimed professional artists”.
For more information or tickets please see http://penfest2013.weebly.com/ or www.midlothian.gov.uk/midfest or contact [email protected]
Penfest 2013 is a celebration of arts in Penicuik and District which runs from the 14-28th September. This year the festival coincides with Midfest, Midlothian's newest arts, crafts and music festival running from the 21-29th September.
The Penicuik Community Arts Association (PCAA) have been working on a varied programme which will include a number of exhibitions, concerts, workshops and poetry events.
Music and poetry feature strongly in this year’s programme of events. Fiona Hunter, lead singer with Malinky, launches her first solo album as part of a concert hosted by the Penicuik Folk Club. Fiona is one of Scotland's foremost traditional singers and her time with the band has seen them win many accolades including the prestigious Folk Band of the year award at the 2010 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and she has twice been nominated in the Scots Singer of the Year category at the awards. She will play with Mike Vass.
Michelle Burke presents her own special, musical view on her Irish childhood in 'Step into my Parlour', a sell out theatre show (Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2012) featuring songs, stories and memories in a quirky inviting parlour setting.
The town hall hosts a film screening of 'Shell', a highly acclaimed and atmospheric British coming of age story set in the wilds of Scotland. The film screened at this year's Glasgow Film Festival and was nominated for three awards at the BFI London Film Festival.
Other events include: Another session of the popular 'Inspired by Art' creative writing evening with music, piano by Peter Stewart, saxophone by Stephanie Clark and guitar and song by Sophie Burt amongst others. There will be an Open Mic night of readings and song with the Penicuik Writers, and the Pentland writers at Carlops village hall, Henry Marsh hosts and evening of music and poetry in Rosslyn Chapel and Dr Fred Freeman gives a lecture on the response to Irish immigration in the 18th century illustrated through the songs and music on Robert Tannahill.
The mainstay of the festival is the popular annual art exhibition held at the PCAA's home at West Street arts centre. Each year local artists display their best work and compete for the Penicuik Turner Prize, named after a local blacksmith who made the coveted trophy. Sculptor David Annand will judge the event and in addition the people's choice will ask members of the public to vote on their favourite work and the result is announced on the 28th September at the closing of the exhibition.
The popular arts trail involves a number of retail outlets in the town displaying work and four artists Jane Kelly, Ulla Hipkin, Christina Suter and Christine Finlayson open their workshops to the public.
There will also be free drop in craft sessions for all ages in the Penicuik town hall and at West Street Arts Centre, part of the launch of "Crafts 4 All" Project - the next incarnation of what was 3 years of the magical 'Making Space Penicuik'. More details about this radical re-launch are being handcrafted as we speak.
Chairman Jackie MacDonald commented, “it is so exciting to have all this on your doorstep; to realise the depth of local talent and to showcase this alongside acclaimed professional artists”.
For more information or tickets please see http://penfest2013.weebly.com/ or www.midlothian.gov.uk/midfest or contact [email protected]